Grain-binder for harvesters



(Moc leL) 5 Sheets-Sheet, 1.

W. M. PIATT.

GRAIN BINDER FOR HARVESTERS.

No.2? 4 a Y I 24,1883.

(ModeL) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. M. PIATT.

, I GRAIN BINDER FOR HARVESI'ERS. No. 276,458. Patented Ap1nZ4 1883.

"i will u: nu.

(ModeL) '5 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. M. PIATT; I GRAIN BINDER FOR HARVBSTERS.

Patented Apr. 24, 1883. I

N. FEIERS. Fholo-Lilhngnyhlr. war-mm" n c (ModeL) 5 Sheets--Sheet 4.

W.;1vI.. PIATT,

GRAIN BINDER FOB. H'ARVBSTBRS. No. 276,458. Patented Apr. 24,'1883.

rl. PETERS. Phclo-Lilbograplwn Washington. 0,6.

(Model) 5She'ets-Sheet5.

W. M.. PIATT.

GRAINBINDER FOR HARVESTERS. No. 276,458, Patented Apr. 24, 1883.

' binding the cut grain, and my object is to pro 'UNITED- STATES fPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. PIATT, OF WEST LIBERTY, OHIO.

GRAlN-BlND ER FOR HARVESTERS.

SPECIFIGATIUN forming part; of Letters Patent No. 276,458, dated April24, 1883.

Application filed August 31, 1882. (Model.)

siding at West Liberty, in the county of L0- .gan and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Binders forHarvesters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of automatic binders which employcord or twine for duce a simple, strong, and efficient machine.

The novelty of my invention consists in the construction, combinations,and arrangements of the various elements or parts, as will be herewithset forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a harvestercontaining my improvements. 'Fig.2 is a section of the 1nachine throughthe line w 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is section through the platform at thejunction of the receiving and elevating aprons, showing theshearing-knife there located. Fig. 4

,is an enlarged detail view of the needle-shaftoperating devices. Fig. 5is an enlarged sectional view of the sheaf-dropping table and itsoperating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the machine onthe line 2 z" of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view,

partly in section, of the needle-shaft and its immediate connections.Fig.8comprises three enlarged detail views of the gavel receivingcradle, and its immediate connections. Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view,partly in' section,

,of the cord holding and tying mechanism.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation ofFig. 9. Fig. 11 is asection through theline y y of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a side elevation, partly in sectionthrough the line 2 z of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is an enlarged view, inperspective, of the knot-tying mechanism. Figs. 14, 15, and 16 representthe end of the knot-tyer in various positions in its course ofrevolution while forming the knot. Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of thegavel-compressing arms and actuating mechanism.

The same letters and figures of reference indicatelike parts in all thefigures.

. For a general description of the machine,

referring to Fig. 1,A-is an y suitabl y-connected and strong frame-workfor supporting the op.- erating parts, as is usual in this class ofmachines.

B is the main supporting and driving wheel, having an internal gear, G,which drives the pinion D, secured by ratchet-connection upon the end ofa shaft, E, so as not to revolve when the machine is backed. The otherend of this shaft carries a beveled-gear wheel, F, which in turn mesheswith a beveled gear wheel, G, keyed upon a shaft, 1-]. suitablyjournaled in the frame and bracket D, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, andextending about halfway across the frame in the line of draft of themachine. 7

Upon the front end of shaft H is secured a pinion, I, meshing with apinion, J, upon the end of a crank-shaft, K, whose crank L is connectedby a pitman, M, to the usual cutterbar, N.

The grain-receiving platform is ahorizontal traveling endless apron orweb, 0, with transverse ribs P, and said apron is carried upon rollersR, journaled in the frame-work. The roller R nearest the wheel B isdriven to cause the traveling of the apron by the following mechanism: Amiter-pinion, S, upon the shaft H meshes with a like pinion, T, securedto a clutch-sleeve, U, which is, when the clutch is disengaged, free torevolve upon the end of a suitably-journaled shaft, W, without revolvingsaid shaft. Upon this shaft is a sliding sleeve, V, with its end formedinto a clutch to engage with the clutch U, as shown. Pins Y, projectingfrom the shaft-W, extend through longitudinal slots in the sleeve V,thereby locking the sleeve and shaft so as to revolve together, butleaving the former free to slide upon the latter. A miter-pinion, a, iskeyed upon the shaft W, and engages with a corresponding pinion, 1),upon the roller B, and

which time the shaft W will cease to revolve and the apron 0 be stopped,thereby stopping the delivery of grain. The mechanism for end of theshaft H, as shown particularly in ment with'the clutch E, but preventingit from'revolving independently of the shaft. A

which is made hollow to receive it, and from throwing theabove-mentioned clutches out of engagement will be hereinafterdescribed.

Adjacent to the inner end of the apron 0, so as to take the cutgrain'therefrom, are two narrow aprons, O", inclined so as to carry thegrain up to the binding mechanism. These aprons are set side by side,with a space between them, and they are carried upon drums d and 6,Figs. 1, 2, and 7. The drums at are the driving-drums, and are securedupon the driving-shaftf, suitablyjournaledin the frame, while the drums6 run loosely upon the needleshaft, to be hereinafter described. Motionis communicated from the shaft H to the shaft-f by sprocket-wheels g anddriving-chain It, as seen in Fig. 1.

Overlapping the edges of the aprons C are the metal guards t, which arehung upon the shaftfand the needle-shaft, and secured fromd'isplacementin any convenient manner. These guards are shown moreparticularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, and, in addition to keeping theaprons from running off their drums, serve as means for holding therightangular pivoted teethj in proper position. These latter are metalrods or wires secured in sheaths k, extending across the aprons andsecured thereto. Their ends are bent at right angles to their length,and stand out from the rods radially at right angles to each other, sothat as the aprons revolve the rear bent ends are caused to lie fiatupon the guards i, and thus retain the front bent ends projected up fromthe aprons, as shown in Fig. 1, and more particularly in Fig. 2. I

The needle-shaft l, which passes through the drums e, is suitablyjournaled in the frame of the machine, and carries the curved needle mnear its middle, which rests and plays in the opening between theaprons, as shown. The cord-box a is secured upon the rear of the machinein any proper way, and the cord 0 passes up through an opening in itstop, around any suitable tension-roller or device 1), and thence intothe open end of the needle-shaft,

said shaft up through the needle, which is likewise hollow, as seen inFig. 7. The cord emerges from an eye in the sharpened end of the needle,as seen in Fig. 1. In the same vertical plane with the shaft H, butabove it and parallel with it, is a shaft, A, suitably journaled in theframe and in brackets B, C, and D, extending therefrom, as scenin Figs.1 and 6. This shaft has upon its forward end, which extends over therear end of shaft H, a loose clutch-sleeve,E,to which is secured apinion,F, meshing with a smaller pinion, Gr, upon' the Fig. 6. A secondclutch-sleeve, H, adapted to engage with the sleeve E, is held upontheshaft A by a pin, 1, projecting from the shaft through a longitudinalslot in the sleeve H, as seen in Fig. 8, thusallowing the sleeve toslide upon the shaft into and out of engagespiral spring, J, surroundingshaft, A and held between a collar, K, and the sleeve H, serves to throwand hold the clutch-faces in engagement under certain conditions'of theparts, to be presently explained.

Just under the sleeve H is a concave member, L, having a diagonal slot,M, in its bed, as seen in Fig. 8. This concave member L is supportedyieldingly against the sleeve H by a curved spring, N projecting fromthe frame, and it (the concave member) carries the cradle-arms O, whichreceive the gavel from the aprons 0. These arms, of any desired number,are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 8.

Projecting from the sleeve H is a stud or pin, P, which enters the slotM in the concave member, and by means of which slot and pin the sleeve His kept withdrawn out of engagement with the clutch E. Thus it will beseen that normally the clutch-sleeves aredisengaged and the shaft A atrest, though the shaft H and pinions F G are continuously revolving.This state of things continues until enough grain has been received uponthea-rms O to make a sheaf,when, owing to the weight of the grain, thearms 0 and theconcave member L are depressed sufficiently to withdrawthe pin 1 from its slot M,--at which moment the spring J, being freed,throws the clutchsleeves H and E into eugagement,and thereby starts therevolution of the shaft A. The gavel now having been bound by theneedlearm,and the cord being tied and out by mechanism to be presentlydescribed, the sheaf is I dropped from the arms 0 upon the subjacentdropping-table, and the spring N elevates the concave member L againstthe sleeve H. This revolution of the shaft A and sleeve H continuesuntil the pin P, coming around,reenters the slot M and effects thedisengage ment of the sleeve H from sleeve E, whereupon the shaft Astops. Thus it will be seen that every time a gavel is'ready to be boundthe shaft A is given one entire revolution and then rests. Now, upon therear end of the shaft A is a crank, R, connected by apitman, S, with awrist-pin upon a segment-gear, T. (See Fig. 4.) The segment T mesheswith a pinion,U, upon the rear end of theneedleshaft, and thearrangement of the parts is-such that at every revolution of the shaftAthe needle-shaft is caused to turn forward through about half a circle,and is then thrown back to itsposition of rest. The adjustment of theIIO crank R, pitman S, and segment T is also i such that when the needleis projected forward to its farther limit it remains stationary for ashort space of time before returning to its position of rest. A

Referring now particularly to Figs. 9, 10, 11,

"and 12, I would describe the cord-holding,

knot-tying, and cutting mechanism which is brought into play by therevolution of the shaft A. I

On the shaft A, adjacent'to the bracket B, are keyed two gear-wheels,Aand B, of which the former has five teeth or cogs upon itspea short axlecarrying a serrated disk, H and sion, a of the shape shown, between theears half way of the circumference of the disk, leavjdle, at its middlestroke, is brought right up to and a little past the rubber disk,thereby plac- 10, and 12.

riphery, which are adapted to engage with-a pinion, O keyed upon asleeve, D ,fit ted on a* stud or axis, E secured to the bracket B, asshown particularly in Figs. 11 and 12.

Upon "the end of thesleeve D is secured a collar, F having five or morecurved prongs, G which partly embrace a rubberdislg'fl held stationaryupon the end of stud E This rubber disk has a rounded periphery incrosssection, and'its inner edge is beveledotf, say,

inga blank or open space between the rubber, and the fingers G as seenat .9 Fig. 12. The arrangement and length of the stud E are such as tobring the rubber disk in the plane of travel of the needle, so that theeye of the neeing the end of the cord in the blank space 5 abovereferred to. This occurs at every stroke of. the needle; r

In the bent end ofthebracket B is journaled amitergear, 1 which mesheswith agear, J

7 keyed upon the sleeve D as seen in Figs. 9

1 A spring-brake, IQ, of any suitable construction, holds the pinion andits connections stationary, except when revolved by the teeth upon thewheel A whereupon the brake yields.

Just over the sleeve D and parallel therewith, is a sleeve-extension ofthe bracket 0, in which is journaled a shaft, L having upon its rear enda pinion, M and upon its front end the knot-tyer N to be presentlydescribed. The pinion M meshes with internal teeth, 0?, upon the flangeof the wheel B Figs. 9 and 10. A brake-spring, P ot'any suitableconstruction, upon the sleeve-journal ot' the shaft L ,bears against aflattened portion of thehub of the pinion M to holdthe shaft L andknottyerin proper position at all times except when the shaft isrevolving. The knot-tyer mechanism may be described as follows,reference being had to Figs. 12, 13,14, 15, and 16. The shaft L carriesupon its end a slotted exten' of which are pivoted, at W, the hookedbill a, and at d the dog 0, constructed as shown A spiral spring, f Fig.12, which presses against thejaw e and the end of the extension at ofthe shaft L serves to hold the nose of the dog and the hooked nose ofthe hill 0 in-close proximity; but when the heel portion of the bill cis pressed against the extension a the hill 0 and dog 6 are thrownapart, leavingan opening between them for'the entrance of the cord. Now,the adjustment of the wheels'A and B upon the shaft A is such that justas the needle begins its backward throw, after having caught the cord inthe blank space .9 the teeth of the wheel A will engage with pinion Oand cause a partial revolution of the fingers G", which will lock thecord by frictional contact or wedging between the rubber disk H and oneof the fingers G The needle then goes back to its position of rest,leaving the cord ertending from the eye of the needle-tothe holder, asshown inFig. 2., This operation we will suppose to have beenaccomplished, as is necessary before starting the machine, in order thatthe gavel may rest upon the cord. Now, with the gavel in place in thecradle, the needle comes forward on its second stroke, carrying the cordaroundthe gavel and locking it in the holder a second time by thepartial revolution ofthe fingers G and retreats as before. Just as itbegins to retreat 'the notched or serrated disk H is 'partiallyturned,drawing both strands of the cord enveloping the gavel forwardtotheposition shown in Fig.

knife 1' projects {T011111 bell-crank armuf, hung loosely upon thesleeve D and secured by a washer, 7.1 Fig. 12. The free end of the arm fhas a laterally-projecting pin or stud, 2*, which works ina cam-groove,m in a disk,

a keyed upon the shaft A, as seen. in Figs.

9 and 10. The shape of the cam-groove m and the adjustment'of the disk nare such that the knife is not brought into play until the knot is tiedand readyto be released.

Now, to go back to the carrying-aprons seen in 'Fig. 1. It ;is desirablethat the apron 0 should stop its revolution the moment the needle beginsits stroke,'and this is accomplished by the sleeveV in the followingmanner: Upon the needle-shaft 1, adjacent to the sleeve, is a curvedupwardly projecting arm, forming a cam, a which bearsagainst a collar orshoulder, 1), upon the sleeveVin such manner that as soonas theneedle-shaft commences its rotation the sleeve V is forcedback, therebydisengaging the sleeve V from the clutch U stored and the shaft setagain in motion,

,as l have previously explained. i

It is also desirable that the grain'on the apron 0 becompletelyseparated from that on the elevating-aprons O", which arealways in motion while the process of binding is going on, and that'allweeds or vines which might serve to connect the grain on the two apronsbe severed. To this end I have provideda knife orcutting-blade, 0",Figs. 1 and3, extending across,and between the two aprons supported andheld up to permit the passage of grain under it during the revolution ofapron 0 by a spring, (1

knife isconnected by acord, a, passing down around a groovedidler-pulley,f ,and having its end secured to a larger grooved pulley ordisk, 9 1 upon the. needleshaft, the adjustment being such that as soonas the needle be- The opposite end of this gins its stroke and the apron0 stops, the knife is brought down with a draw out against a shear-baror anvil, h of any suitable construction, thereby severing any vines orother trash that might serve to connect the two portions of grain.

I do not purpose to limit myself to the construction of knife shown, asit and its mode of operation might be varied infinitely.

To properly feed the grain from the aprons O to the cradle-arms,[ haveprovided two or more alternately-vibrating arms, k ,Fig. 2, pivotedthrough a. slot in the upright bracket-arm I), and having their upperends connected either by cranks or eccentrics l ,-set diametricallyopposite upon a shaft, m driven with a belt by a grooved pulley, a, fromthe pulley 0 upon the roller-shaft It of the apron 0, so

7 that these feeding-arms act only while the apron O is revolving andstop when it stops.

Beneath the cradle-arms, upon a shaft, 19 is a table, r which receivesthe sheaf after the cord is cut. This table is held from tipping by aspring-pawl, t pivoted toan arm, a turning upon the shaft 19 as seen inFig. 5, which-pawl engages with a ratchet, cflsccured upon the shaft 11The arm n is connected by a curved link or pitman, w, with a crank-.arm, upon the needle-shaft, as shown. As

the needle travels forward the pawl slipsback over the ratchet withoutaffecting the position of the table; but as it comes back on itsreturn-stroke after the gavel is bound and left on'the table the pawlengages wiLh the ratchet and turns the table r completely over, thusdropping the sheaf upon the ground and leaving the table ready for thenext sheaf. By reference to Fig.1? my improved gavel-compressing armswill he clearly understood, and I will now describe them.

Attached to brackets(not shown)connected to the frame-work of the cradleare pivoted a pair of curved arms, 2, (see Fig. 17,) which should belocated near the horizontal plane of the needle-shaft, and in suchposition as to partlyencompass the gavel as it lies upon the cradle. Therear ends of the arms 2 have laterally-projecting pins 3, which engagewith a cam-groove in a disk, 4, keyed upon the shaft A, the arrangementand adjustment being such that the arms are brought toward each other,so as to compress the gavel just as the knot-tyer begins its operation.

Broadly considered, the combination of a platform-apron, anelevating-apron, and'a cutoff, whereby as soon as the binding mechanismis thrown into action thecut-off is brought into use, is not new; but mycombination differs from this in the employment of an interposed knifefor the purpose stated. Also, a yielding gavel-receptacle which is actedon by the weight of the grain and is connected with and adapted to startthe binding mechanism is not new with me.

4 amass Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. Thecombination, with the elevatingaprons and the platform -apron, of aninterposed knife with connecting mechanisn, whereby as soon as thebinding mechanism is thrown into action the knife is caused to act tosever any vines or other material which might connect the grain upon thetwo sets of aprons, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a hollow needle-shaft, a hollow needle attached tosaid shaft, and grain elevating or carrying aprons traveling upon andaround said shaft, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the oscillating needle-shaft, ofgrain-elevating aprons revolving on drums around said shaft, and havinga space between their adjacent edges, through which space the needle canplay as the shaft is oscillated, substantially as described.

4. Thecombination,with the movingcurved cord-holding fingers G of thenotched rubber disk Hflconstructed and operating substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, with the vibrating needle and the cord-holdingmechanism, of the knot-tyer composed of the hooked bill 0 having theheel projection and the spring-pressed dog 6 and operating mechanism,and the serrated cord-placing disk H, the parts being constructed andarranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose specified.

6. The combin ation,-with the needle-driving shaft A and the knot-tyerand bolder mechanism, of the cord-severing knife 1?, cperated by thecam-grooved disk a substantially in the manner and for the purposespecified.

7. The combination and arrangement of the gear-wheels A B and pinions 0M with the knot-tyer and holding device, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

' 8. The yieldinggavel-cradle secured to a concave member, L,constructedas described, in combination with the sliding clutch Hand driving-clutchE,With connecting mechanism, whereby when the gavel is sufficientlyheavy to be bound the two clutches become automa-tically engaged,thereby setting the binding mechanism in motion,.substantiallyas described.

9. The combination,with the driving-shaft .H and the platform -aprondriving-shaft It and mechanism connecting them, of the clutch U, slidingsleeve V, shaft W, needle-shaft I, cam a and collar b substantially asand for the purpose specified.

In'testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM M. PIATT. Witnesses:

It. N. JORDAN, PRISCILLA JORDAN.

